Gardening Update, August 13th

Horticultural skills are in short supply in Pocahontas, thanks to a slim budget.  So those of us who contribute our skills have been on the receiving end of some warm thanks from the park staff.  We aren’t experts, but what we accomplish makes a difference, and it’s nice to get a pat on the back now and then.

We’ve been working at the CCC Field on a few things, one of which is to make the walks more attractive by lining them with mulch to cover the cement which holds the bricks in place.  This is still unfinished and is now a high priority.  While there, Andrea Hasenfus, Volunteer Coordinator, paid us a visit.  One of her bits of news was that she had received permission for us to clear away the bee balm at the Rain Garden, so that will be an upcoming task.  This week we decided to skip the Aquatic Center due to time, and we moved to the CCC Museum and then to the Butterfly Garden.  Both of these were quickly cleared of the few weeds that have appeared (or that we missed) since last week.  Both also afforded the opportunity to talk plants and insects, among other things. 

To finish our morning, Eric and I spent a few minutes weeding the Native Plant Garden.  Bryce Wilk, park Assistant Manager, stopped by and spent a few minutes looking over the new plant tags.  He suggested that it would be helpful to have mulched, open approaches to the tags that are not close to the parking pavement.  Yes, I agree, and that will be something we can work on.